it is a $2.2 trillion offer that does not raise the tax rate on the wealthiest americans and that has become the central issue of the negotiations. the white house says republicans still are not ready to get serious. susan mcginnis is in washington with the back and forth details. susan, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, terrell. gop leaders here on capitol hill sent their plan to the white house in this letter on monday, and now that both initial offers are out there, both sides say it's time to get serious. governors from six states are headed here to washington today to tell president obama their thoughts on the fiscal cliff. the bipartisan group says both sides need to work together to avoid the tax increases and spending cuts due to kick in at the end of the year. >> no one's going to get what they want, but as a country to move forward, we've got to figure out who gives where, and if everything is going to be out on the table, how do we negotiate that? >> reporter: republicans have given a counterproposal to the president's plan which he issued last week. they say